Huawei launched its new Mate 8 smartphone today, the Chinese company taking the wraps off the high end handset at a special press event. This is a pretty big old thing, with a massive 6-inch screen, and arrives as an update to the Mate 7. So, what?s the deal here?

Whenever smartphone sales figures are announced we of course discuss how Samsung is comfortably atop the pile and how Apple is second, and how the two companies are both doing very well for themselves. However, below Sammy and Apple there is a huge battle going on for third place in the market, and this folks is where the action is at.

We like the Huawei Watch, the company's first smartwatch, mainly because of its slick looks (in terms of features, it is basically the same as other Android Wear products). The Huawei Watch is good-looking in all guises, but it is the Rose Gold variant that catches the most attention, which sports a 22k gold timepiece and a choice of straps, including high end leather.

Huawei has had a really busy year through 2015, but the company continue to rout handsets. So much so that it is sometimes hard to keep up, but the next smartphone to be launched should stand out from the crowd. It is the Huawei P9 Max, a device that is expected to launch November 29th and will be the Chinese company's new phablet flagship.

Chinese brands are usually where it's at if you want bang for your buck, with handsets from the country usually well spec'd and well made, even if there are usually compromises along the way. Huawei is certainly one of the companies that fit that ethos, and the third largest smartphone brand in the world is showing that again with the G7 Plus.

We like the Huawei Watch, it is one of the best Android Wear smartwatches on the market, not to mention one of the very best looking wearables available. Consumers in the United Kingdom can now get a taste of the Huawei Watch as the device is rolling out in the nation right now.

Google and Huawei are sweetening the deal for the Nexus 6P further by giving consumers who buy the flagship the chance to grab the Huawei Watch for $50 off its list price. We don't think the excellent Nexus 6P really needs the extra kick, especially as demand is reported to be through the roof, but cutting a deal for one of the best wearables available is a deal we can appreciate.

Huawei will be updating its Honor smartphones to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in February 2016, according to the Huawei Honor India division that issued the timeframe in a tweet. Indeed, those using the Honor 7 smartphone could be a part of a Marshmallow beta test in the coming weeks and months.